Method and system for implementing media stream synchronization

ABSTRACT

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content streaming or playback, and, more particularly, for implementing media stream synchronization. In some embodiments, a synchronization system might receive a first signal that is output from a first device, which receives an original video signal from a video source and outputs a first video signal. The synchronization system might analyze the first signal to determine a first frame buffer delay, generate a delay adjustment signal based on such determination, and send the delay adjustment signal to a frame buffer delay device. The frame buffer delay device and the first device might concurrently receive the original video signal from the video source. The first delay adjustment signal causes the frame buffer delay device to apply the first frame buffer delay to the original video signal to produce a second video signal that is synchronized with the first video signal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/520,249 (the “'249 application”), filed Jun. 15, 2017 by Michael D.Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-034201US), entitled, “NovelMethod for Media Stream Synchronization,” and U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/429,493 (the “'493 application”), filed Dec. 2, 2016 byMichael D. Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-031601US),entitled, “Detection and Visual Enhancement of Video EncodingArtifacts,” the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

This application may be related to: U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/477,812 (the “'812 application”), filed Apr. 3, 2017 by Michael D.Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-031900US), entitled, “Methodand System for Implementing Advanced Audio Shifting,” which claimspriority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/435,992 (the “'992application”), filed Dec. 19, 2016 by Michael D. Sprenger et al.(attorney docket no. 020370-031901US), entitled, “Advanced Audio FadingMechanism”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/785,145 (the “'145application”), filed Oct. 16, 2017 by Michael D. Sprenger et al.(attorney docket no. 020370-031600US), entitled, “Method and System forImplementing Detection and Visual Enhancement of Video EncodingArtifacts,” which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/429,493 (the “'493 application”), filed Dec. 2, 2016 by Michael D.Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-031601US), entitled,“Detection and Visual Enhancement of Video Encoding Artifacts”; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/785,014 (the “'014 application”), filedOct. 16, 2017 by Michael D. Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no.020370-031300US), entitled, “Method and System for ImplementingAutomatic Audio Optimization for Streaming Services,” which claimspriority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/410,269 (the “'269application”), filed Oct. 19, 2016 by Michael D. Sprenger et al.(attorney docket no. 020370-031301US), entitled, “Automatic AudioOptimization for Streaming Services”; U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/477,376 (the “'376 application”), filed Apr. 3, 2017 by Zubin Ingahet al. (attorney docket no. 020370-030900US), entitled, “Method andSystem for Implementing Content Navigation or Selection UsingTouch-based Input,” which claims priority to U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/403,843 (the “'843 application”), filed Oct. 4, 2016 byZubin Ingah et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-030901US), entitled,“Novel Mechanism for Content Selection Using Touchscreen or Touchpad”;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/477,356 (the “'356 application”),filed Apr. 3, 2017 by Michael D. Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no.020370-030700US), entitled, “Video Quality Optimization Based on DisplayCapabilities,” which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/395,507 (the “'507 application”), filed Sep. 16, 2016 by Michael D.Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-030701US), entitled, “VideoQuality Optimization Based on Display Capabilities.”

The respective disclosures of these applications/patents (which thisdocument refers to collectively as the “Related Applications”) areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to methods, systems, andapparatuses for implementing media content streaming or playback, and,more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingmedia stream synchronization.

BACKGROUND

For purposes of assessing the visual quality of a video signal that haspassed through, e.g., a transmission system, a transcoder, or equivalentsystem—potentially impairing its quality—, it is desirable to comparethe original signal with the processed signal. The processing imposes acertain amount of latency onto the signal, so a direct side-by-sidecomparison is not possible, unless the original signal is also delayedby the same amount. Conventional techniques, however, do not do so.

Hence, there is a need for more robust and scalable solutions forimplementing media content streaming or playback, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingmedia stream synchronization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particularembodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions ofthe specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals areused to refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label isassociated with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similarcomponents. When reference is made to a reference numeral withoutspecification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to allsuch multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for implementingmedia stream synchronization, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating an original videostream (FIG. 2A) and video stream as delayed after passing through adevice under test (“DUT”) (FIG. 2B), in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flow diagrams illustrating another system forimplementing media stream synchronization, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIGS. 3C-3F are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments oftiming patterns, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4A are flow diagrams illustrating yet another system forimplementing media stream synchronization, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIGS. 4B and 4C are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodimentsof timing patterns, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5F are flow diagrams illustrating a method for implementingmedia stream synchronization, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a networked system of computers,computing systems, or system hardware architecture, which can be used inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS Overview

Various embodiments provide tools and techniques for implementing mediacontent streaming or playback, and, more particularly, to methods,systems, and apparatuses for implementing media stream synchronization.

In various embodiments, a synchronization system might receive a firstsignal that is output from a first device, wherein the first devicereceives an original video signal from a video source (e.g., a videocontent source(s) and/or database(s), or the like) and outputs a firstvideo signal. The synchronization system might analyze the receivedfirst signal to determine a first frame buffer delay, and might generatea first delay adjustment signal based on the determined first framebuffer delay. The synchronization system might send the first delayadjustment signal to a frame buffer delay device. The frame buffer delaydevice, which is separate from the first device, might receive theoriginal video signal from the video source concurrent with the firstdevice receiving an original video signal from the video source. Thefirst delay adjustment signal would cause the frame buffer delay deviceto apply the first frame buffer delay to the received original videosignal to produce a second video signal that is synchronized with thefirst video signal. In some cases, the second video signal might besynchronized with the first video signal to within a predeterminedthreshold amount (which might be in terms of number of frames or numberof seconds (or milliseconds), or the like).

In some embodiments, the synchronization system or engine might comprisea timing pattern generator and an analyzer. In such embodiments, thefirst signal would comprise a timing pattern. In alternativeembodiments, the synchronization system or engine might comprise a framecomparator. In these embodiments, the first signal would comprise thefirst video signal.

Merely by way of example, in some instances, a comparator or computingsystem might control the operation of the synchronization system orengine, the first device, and/or the frame buffer delay device.Alternatively, or additionally, a comparator or computing system mightperform additional processing of the video signals that are output bythe first device and/or the frame buffer delay device. In some cases,the computing system, which might be either remote relative to thesynchronization system or engine or local to the synchronization systemor engine, might perform frame-by-frame comparisons to detect videoquality impairments (including, but not limited to, video encodingartifacts, noise, dropouts, etc.), and in some cases to further performvisual enhancement of video encoding artifacts or the like, as describedin greater detail in the '145 application, which claims priority to '493application (and which has already been incorporated herein by referencein its entirety for all purposes). Alternatively, or additionally,display device(s) might display the first video signal that is output bythe first device and/or might display the second video signal that isoutput by the frame buffer delay device, which either allows a user toview the two video signals and to manually adjust the frame delay.

The following detailed description illustrates a few exemplaryembodiments in further detail to enable one of skill in the art topractice such embodiments. The described examples are provided forillustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that other embodiments of the presentinvention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Inother instances, certain structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form. Several embodiments are described herein, and whilevarious features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should beappreciated that the features described with respect to one embodimentmay be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token,however, no single feature or features of any described embodimentshould be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, asother embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers used herein to expressquantities, dimensions, and so forth used should be understood as beingmodified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, theuse of the singular includes the plural unless specifically statedotherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and/or” unlessotherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as wellas other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considerednon-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompassboth elements and components comprising one unit and elements andcomponents that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically statedotherwise.

Various embodiments described herein, while embodying (in some cases)software products, computer-performed methods, and/or computer systems,represent tangible, concrete improvements to existing technologicalareas, including, without limitation, media content streaming ordownloading technology, media stream comparison technology, and/or thelike. In other aspects, certain embodiments, can improve the functioningof user equipment or systems themselves (e.g., media players, set-topboxes (“STBs”), media content streaming or downloading systems, etc.),for example, by receiving, with a synchronization system, a first signalthat is output from a first device, wherein the first device receives anoriginal video signal from a video source and outputs a first videosignal; analyzing, with the synchronization system, the received firstsignal to determine a first frame buffer delay; generating, with thesynchronization system, a first delay adjustment signal based on thedetermined first frame buffer delay; and sending, with thesynchronization system, the first delay adjustment signal to a framebuffer delay device, the frame buffer delay device, which is separatefrom the first device, receiving the original video signal from thevideo source concurrent with the first device receiving the originalvideo signal from the video source, the first delay adjustment signalcausing the frame buffer delay device to apply the first frame bufferdelay to the received original video signal to produce a second videosignal that is synchronized with the first video signal, and/or thelike. In particular, to the extent any abstract concepts are present inthe various embodiments, those concepts can be implemented as describedherein by devices, software, systems, and methods that involve specificnovel functionality (e.g., steps or operations), such as, receiving,with a synchronization system, a first signal that is output from afirst device, wherein the first device receives an original video signalfrom a video source and outputs a first video signal; analyzing, withthe synchronization system, the received first signal to determine afirst frame buffer delay; generating, with the synchronization system, afirst delay adjustment signal based on the determined first frame bufferdelay; and sending, with the synchronization system, the first delayadjustment signal to a frame buffer delay device, the frame buffer delaydevice, which is separate from the first device, receiving the originalvideo signal from the video source concurrent with the first devicereceiving the original video signal from the video source, the firstdelay adjustment signal causing the frame buffer delay device to applythe first frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce a second video signal that is synchronized with the first videosignal, and/or the like, to name a few examples, that extend beyond mereconventional computer processing operations. These functionalities canproduce tangible results outside of the implementing computer system,including, merely by way of example, implementing media streamsynchronization to improve, e.g., optimized presentation of mediacontent (including video content) thus providing for smoother and moreefficient presentation of video content to the user, and/or the like, atleast some of which may be observed or measured by customers and/orservice providers.

In an aspect, a method might comprise receiving, with a synchronizationsystem, a first signal that is output from a first device, wherein thefirst device receives an original video signal from a video source andoutputs a first video signal; analyzing, with the synchronizationsystem, the received first signal to determine a first frame bufferdelay; generating, with the synchronization system, a first delayadjustment signal based on the determined first frame buffer delay; andsending, with the synchronization system, the first delay adjustmentsignal to a frame buffer delay device. The frame buffer delay device,which is separate from the first device, might receive the originalvideo signal from the video source concurrent with the first devicereceiving the original video signal from the video source. The firstdelay adjustment signal might cause the frame buffer delay device toapply the first frame buffer delay to the received original video signalto produce a second video signal that is synchronized with the firstvideo signal.

In some embodiments, the synchronization system might comprise a timingpattern generator and an analyzer. The first signal might comprise asecond timing pattern, and the method might further comprise: switching,using a switch, input to the first device from the video source to thetiming pattern generator; generating, with the timing pattern generator,a first timing pattern; and sending, with the timing pattern generator,the first timing pattern to the first device via the switch. In somecases, receiving, with the synchronization system, the first signal thatis output from the first device might comprise receiving, with theanalyzer, the second timing pattern that is output from the firstdevice. In some instances, analyzing, with the synchronization system,the received first signal to determine the first frame buffer delaymight comprise analyzing, with the analyzer, the second timing patternto determine the first frame buffer delay. According to someembodiments, generating, with the synchronization system, the firstdelay adjustment signal based on the determined first frame buffer delaymight comprise generating, with the analyzer, the first delay adjustmentsignal based on the determined first frame buffer delay. The methodmight further comprise switching, using the switch, input from thetiming pattern generator to the video source, and sending, with thesynchronization system, the first delay adjustment signal to the framebuffer delay device might comprise sending, with the analyzer, the firstdelay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device.

According to some embodiments, the first timing pattern might comprise afirst anchor frame pattern of a plurality of anchor frame patterns, eachof the plurality of anchor frame patterns being different from eachother of the plurality of anchor frame patterns. The first anchor framepattern of the plurality of anchor frame patterns might be encoded on afirst frame of the original video signal and a second anchor framepattern of the plurality of anchor frame patterns might be encoded on asecond frame of the original video signal. The first frame and thesecond frame are separated by a predetermined number of frames of theoriginal video signal, with intermediate frame patterns being encoded onintermediate frames of the original video signal between the first frameand the second frame. Each intermediate frame pattern might be the sameas the first anchor frame pattern, and analyzing the second timingpattern to determine the first frame buffer delay might comprise:initiating, with the analyzer, a counter when a first anchor frame ofthe plurality of anchor frame patterns is sent to the first device;stopping, with the analyzer, the counter when the second timing patternis received from the output of the first device; analyzing, with theanalyzer, the second timing pattern to identify a third anchor frame ofthe plurality of anchor frame patterns; and determining, with theanalyzer, the first frame buffer delay, based on a value of the counterwhen stopped, with respect to the third anchor frame.

In some instances, sending the first anchor frame to the first devicemight comprise encoding the first anchor frame on a frame of theoriginal video signal. In some cases, the counter might comprise aclock. In some embodiments, each of the first anchor frame and thesecond anchor frame might comprise timing information.

Merely by way of example, according to some embodiments, the firsttiming pattern and the second timing pattern are the same pattern. Thefirst timing pattern and the second timing pattern are encoded on afirst frame and a second frame, respectively, of the original videosignal. No timing patterns are encoded on each intermediate frame of aplurality of intermediate frames between the first frame and the secondframe. The plurality of intermediate frames between the first frame andthe second frame might comprise predetermined number of intermediateframes, and analyzing the second timing pattern to determine the firstframe buffer delay comprise: initiating, with the analyzer, a counterwhen the first timing pattern is sent to the first device; stopping,with the analyzer, the counter when the second timing pattern isreceived from the output of the first device; and determining, with theanalyzer, the first frame buffer delay, based on a value of the counterwhen stopped and based on the predetermined number of intermediateframes between the first frame and the second frame.

In some embodiments, sending the first timing pattern to the firstdevice via the switch might comprise encoding, with the timing patterngenerator, the first timing pattern on the first frame of the originalvideo signal. In some cases, the counter might comprise a clock. In someinstances, the timing pattern generator and the analyzer might be partof an integrated timing pattern generator-analyzer system.

According to some embodiments, the synchronization system might comprisea frame comparator, and the method might further comprise receiving,with the frame comparator, the second video signal that is produced bythe frame buffer delay device. In some cases, receiving, with thesynchronization system, the first signal that is output from the firstdevice might comprise receiving, with the frame comparator, the firstvideo signal that is output from the first device. In some instances,analyzing, with the synchronization system, the received first signal todetermine the first frame buffer delay might comprise analyzing, withthe frame comparator, the received first video signal and the receivedsecond video signal to determine a second frame buffer delay. In somecases, generating, with the synchronization system, the first delayadjustment signal based on the determined first frame buffer delay mightcomprise generating, with the frame comparator, a second delayadjustment signal based on the determined second frame buffer delay. Insome instances, sending, with the synchronization system, the firstdelay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device might comprisesending, with the frame comparator, the second delay adjustment signalto the frame buffer delay device to produce the second video signal. Themethod might further comprise determining, with the frame comparator,whether the first video signal and the second video signal match towithin a predetermined minimal difference. Based on a determination thata difference between the received first video signal and the receivedsecond video signal might exceed the predetermined minimal difference,repeating the processes of: generating, with the frame comparator, thesecond delay adjustment signal based on the second frame buffer delay;sending, with the frame comparator, the second delay adjustment signalto the frame buffer delay device, the second delay adjustment signalcausing the frame buffer delay device to apply the second frame bufferdelay to the received original video signal to produce the second videosignal; receiving, with the frame comparator, the first video signal;receiving, with the frame comparator, the second video signal;analyzing, with the frame comparator, the received first video signaland the received second video signal; and determining, with the framecomparator, whether the received first video signal and the receivedsecond video signal match to within the predetermined minimaldifference.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, determining whether the firstvideo signal and the second video signal match to within thepredetermined minimal difference might comprise computing, with theframe comparator, a difference signal between the first video signal andthe second video signal; and analyzing, with the frame comparator, thedifference signal with respect to the predetermined minimal difference.In some instances, determining whether the first video signal and thesecond video signal match to within the predetermined minimal differencemight comprise utilizing one of peak signal-to-noise ratio (“PSNR”)technique or root mean square (“RMS”) technique, and/or the like. Insome cases, the second video signal might be synchronized with the firstvideo signal to within a predetermined threshold amount. In someembodiments, the method might comprise comparing, with a computingsystem, the first video signal and the second video signal in real-time,on a frame-by-frame basis. In some instances, the first device mightcomprise one of a video encoder, a video decoder, a videoencoder/decoder system, a video transcoder, a video storage and replaysystem, a video transport system, or a video broadcast system, and/orthe like.

In another aspect, a synchronization system might comprise at least oneprocessor and a non-transitory computer readable medium communicativelycoupled to the at least one processor. The non-transitory computerreadable medium might have stored thereon computer software comprising aset of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor,causes the synchronization system to: receive a first signal that isoutput from a first device, wherein the first device receives anoriginal video signal from a video source and outputs a first videosignal; analyze the received first signal to determine a first framebuffer delay; generate a first delay adjustment signal based on thedetermined first frame buffer delay; and send the first delay adjustmentsignal to a frame buffer delay device, the frame buffer delay device,which is separate from the first device, receiving the original videosignal from the video source concurrent with the first device receivingthe original video signal from the video source. The first delayadjustment signal might cause the frame buffer delay device to apply thefirst frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce a second video signal that is synchronized with the first videosignal.

According to some embodiments, the synchronization system might furthercomprise a timing pattern generator, an analyzer, and a switch. Thefirst signal might comprise a second timing pattern, wherein the set ofinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, furthercauses the synchronization system to: switch, using the switch, input tothe first device from the video source to the timing pattern generator;generate, with the timing pattern generator, a first timing pattern; andsend the first timing pattern to the first device via the switch. Insome instances, receiving the first signal that is output from the firstdevice might comprise receiving, with the analyzer, the second timingpattern that is output from the first device. In some cases, analyzingthe received first signal to determine the first frame buffer delaymight comprise analyzing, with the analyzer, the second timing patternto determine the first frame buffer delay. In some embodiments,generating the first delay adjustment signal based on the determinedfirst frame buffer delay might comprise generating, with the analyzer,the first delay adjustment signal based on the determined first framebuffer delay. The set of instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, further causes the synchronization system to: switch, usingthe switch, input from the timing pattern generator to the video source.Sending the first delay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delaydevice might comprise sending, with the analyzer, the first delayadjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device.

In some embodiments, the synchronization system might further comprise aframe comparator, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by theat least one processor, might further cause the synchronization systemto: receive, with the frame comparator, the second video signal that isproduced by the frame buffer delay device. In some instances, receivingthe first signal that is output from the first device might comprisereceiving, with the frame comparator, the first video signal that isoutput from the first device. In some cases, analyzing the receivedfirst signal to determine the first frame buffer delay might compriseanalyzing, with the frame comparator, the received first video signaland the received second video signal to determine a second frame bufferdelay. In some instances, generating the first delay adjustment signalbased on the determined first frame buffer delay might comprisegenerating, with the frame comparator, a second delay adjustment signalbased on the determined second frame buffer delay. In some cases,sending the first delay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delaydevice might comprise sending, with the frame comparator, the seconddelay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device to produce thesecond video signal. The set of instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, might further cause the synchronization system to:determine, with the frame comparator, whether the first video signal andthe second video signal match to within a predetermined minimaldifference; and, based on a determination that a difference between thereceived first video signal and the received second video signal exceedsthe predetermined minimal difference, causing the synchronization systemto repeat: generating, with the frame comparator, the second delayadjustment signal based on the second frame buffer delay; sending, withthe frame comparator, the second delay adjustment signal to the framebuffer delay device, the second delay adjustment signal causing theframe buffer delay device to apply the second frame buffer delay to thereceived original video signal to produce the second video signal;receiving, with the frame comparator, the first video signal; receiving,with the frame comparator, the second video signal; analyzing, with theframe comparator, the received first video signal and the receivedsecond video signal; and determining, with the frame comparator, whetherthe received first video signal and the received second video signalmatch to within the predetermined minimal difference.

In some cases, the second video signal might be synchronized with thefirst video signal to within a predetermined threshold amount. Merely byway of example, in some embodiments, the first device might comprise oneof a video encoder, a video decoder, a video encoder/decoder system, avideo transcoder, a video storage and replay system, a video transportsystem, or a video broadcast system, and/or the like.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodimentsdiscussed without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, while the embodiments described above refer to particularfeatures, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments havingdifferent combination of features and embodiments that do not includeall of the above described features.

Specific Exemplary Embodiments

We now turn to the embodiments as illustrated by the drawings. FIGS. 1-7illustrate some of the features of the method, system, and apparatus forimplementing media content streaming or playback, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingmedia stream synchronization, as referred to above. The methods,systems, and apparatuses illustrated by FIGS. 1-7 refer to examples ofdifferent embodiments that include various components and steps, whichcan be considered alternatives or which can be used in conjunction withone another in the various embodiments. The description of theillustrated methods, systems, and apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1-7 isprovided for purposes of illustration and should not be considered tolimit the scope of the different embodiments.

With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagramillustrating a system 100 for implementing media stream synchronization,in accordance with various embodiments. In the non-limiting embodimentof FIG. 1, system 100 might comprise a synchronization system 105 (whichmight, in some instances, comprise a synchronization engine or thelike), a first device 110 (which might also be referred to herein as“device under test (‘DUT’)”), a video content source(s) 115 andcorresponding database(s) 120, a network(s) 125, a frame buffer delaydevice 130, one or more display devices 135, a computing system 140(optional) and corresponding database(s) 145 (optional).

According to some embodiments, the first device 110 might include,without limitation, one of a video encoder, a video decoder, a videoencoder/decoder system, a video transcoder, a video storage and replaysystem, a video transport system, or a video broadcast system, and/orthe like.

In operation, generally, the synchronization system 105 might receive afirst signal that is output from the first device 110, wherein the firstdevice receives an original video signal from a video source (e.g.,video content source(s) 115 and/or database(s) 120, or the like) andoutputs a first video signal. The synchronization system 105 mightanalyze the received first signal to determine a first frame bufferdelay, and might generate a first delay adjustment signal based on thedetermined first frame buffer delay. The synchronization system mightsend the first delay adjustment signal to a frame buffer delay device.The frame buffer delay device, which is separate from the first device,might receive the original video signal from the video source concurrentwith the first device receiving the original video signal from the videosource. The first delay adjustment signal would cause the frame bufferdelay device to apply the first frame buffer delay to the receivedoriginal video signal to produce a second video signal that issynchronized with the first video signal. In some cases, the secondvideo signal might be synchronized with the first video signal to withina predetermined threshold amount (which might be in terms of number offrames or number of seconds (or milliseconds), or the like).

In some embodiments, the synchronization system 105 might comprise atiming pattern generator and an analyzer. Non-limiting examples of suchembodiments are shown in, and described below with respect to, FIGS.3A-3F and 5B-5D. In these embodiments, the first signal would comprise atiming pattern.

In alternative embodiments, the synchronization system 105 mightcomprise a frame comparator. Non-limiting examples of these embodimentsare shown in, and described below with respect to, FIGS. 4A-4C, 5E, and5F. In these embodiments, the first signal would comprise the firstvideo signal.

Merely by way of example, in some instances, computing system 140 (andcorresponding database(s) 145) might control the operation of thesynchronization system 105, the first device 110, and/or the framebuffer delay device 130. Alternatively, or additionally, computingsystem 140 might perform additional processing of the video signals thatare output by the first device 110 and/or the frame buffer delay device130. In some cases, the computing system 140, which might be eitherremote relative to the synchronization system 105 (and accessible vianetwork(s) 125 as shown in FIG. 1) or local to the synchronizationsystem 105 (not shown in FIG. 1), might perform frame-by-framecomparisons to detect video quality impairments (including, but notlimited to, video encoding artifacts, noise, dropouts, etc.), and insome cases to further perform visual enhancement of video encodingartifacts or the like, as described in greater detail in the '145application, which claims priority to '493 application (and which hasalready been incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for allpurposes). Alternatively, or additionally, display device(s) 135 mightdisplay the first video signal that is output by the first device 110and/or might display the second video signal that is output by the framebuffer delay device 130, which either allows a user to view the twovideo signals and to manual adjust the frame delay.

These and other embodiments are described in detail below with respectto FIGS. 2A-5F below.

FIGS. 2A and 2B (collectively, “FIG. 2”) are schematic diagramsillustrating an original video stream 200 (FIG. 2A) and video stream asdelayed after passing through a device under test (“DUT”; also referredto herein as “first device”) 200′ (FIG. 2B), in accordance with variousembodiments.

In FIG. 2A, an original video stream 200, at a particular starting time,might comprise frame N+2 205 c, frame N+3 205 d, frame N+4 205 e, frameN+5 205 f, etc. In FIG. 2B, a video stream 200′ that is delayed afterpassing through first device or DUT 110 (and which might be referred toherein as “device output” or the like) might comprise frame N 205 a,frame N+1 205 b, frame N+2 205 c, and frame N+3 205 d, etc. In theexample of FIG. 2, the offset between the original video stream and thedevice output is two frames. The various embodiments, however, are notso limited, and the offset or delay can be any number of framesdepending on the latency of the processing functionalities of the firstdevice or DUT 110. In other words, the first device or DUT 110 imposes acertain amount of signal delay corresponding to the latency.

In order to perform any frame-by-frame comparison between the originalvideo stream 200 and device output stream 200′, the two streams have tobe synchronized. The '145 application, which claims priority to '493application (and which has already been incorporated herein by referencein its entirety for all purposes), describes in detail a method andsystem for implementing detection and visual enhancement of videoencoding artifacts that requires as a precedent condition videosynchronization of the two video streams, where video synchronizationmight be implemented, e.g., using the techniques described herein. Forexample, FIGS. 3A-3F are directed to embodiments for temporarilyinserting dedicated timing patterns into the video stream, enabling avideo stream synchronization mechanism to determine the amount oflatency through the DUT 110. FIGS. 4A-4C are directed to embodiments fordetermining the difference between the original video stream 200 and thedevice output stream 200′, then adjusting the delay in a frame bufferuntil the difference between the two video signals is minimized.

We now turn to FIGS. 3A-3F (collectively, “FIG. 3”). FIGS. 3A and 3B areschematic diagrams illustrating another system 300 for implementingmedia stream synchronization, in accordance with various embodiments.FIGS. 3C-3F are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments oftiming patterns, in accordance with various embodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3, system 300 might comprisesynchronization system 305 (which might, in some instances, comprise asynchronization engine or the like), first device 310, video contentsource(s) 315 database(s) 320, frame buffer delay device 330, displaydevice(s) 335 (optional), analyzer 350, timing pattern generator 355,switch 360, first video signal output 365, second video signal output370, and computing system or comparator 375 (optional), and/or the like.In the embodiments of FIG. 3, synchronization system 305 might comprisethe analyzer 350 and the timing pattern generator 355.

In the non-limiting embodiments of FIG. 3, the original video signalfrom video content source(s) 315 is split into two: one path feeds intoframe buffer delay device 330, which delays the video signal by avariable, adjustable amount; the other path feeds into the DUT 310. TheDUT 310 has a fixed delay that needs to be matched by the frame bufferdelay device 330. The switch 360 is able to select either the originalvideo signal from the video content source(s) 315 or the timing patternsignal from the timing pattern generator 355 as an input for the DUT310.

Initially, the switch 360 is set such that the DUT 310 receives itsinput from synchronization system 305 (which comprises the timingpattern generator 355 and analyzer 350), as shown in FIG. 3A. Thesynchronization system 305 (comprising the timing pattern generator 355and analyzer 350) is also able to access the output of the DUT 310. Insome embodiments, the synchronization system 305 generates video imagescontaining encoded timing information. These timing patterns serve astime references and enable the timing pattern generator 355 and analyzer350 to determine the latency of signal processing through the DUT 310.

Once the timing patterns are sent through the DUT 310, the timingpattern generator and analyzer waits for the patterns to appear at theoutput of the DUT 310. The analyzer 350 has capabilities to recognizethe timing information encoded in the patterns. The analyzer 350 usesthe information about the time associated with the timing patterns thatare injected into the DUT 310 and with the timing patterns that areoutput by the DUT 310 to determine the latency through the DUT 310.

Once the latency through the DUT 310 has been established,synchronization system 305 (comprising the timing pattern generator 355and analyzer 350) sends a delay adjustment signal to the frame bufferdelay device 330, adjusting its delay to match the latency of DUT 310.In reality, the DUT 310 will likely not delay its video stream inincrements corresponding to the exact frame rate of the original videosignal, so the variable buffer has to be able to apply delay in muchsmaller amount, so as to be able to match the delay as precisely aspossible.

At this point, both the DUT 310 as well as the frame buffer delay device330 have the same amount of signal delay. The switch 360 is then set tofeed the original video signal into the DUT 310, as shown in FIG. 3B.The video streams at the outputs denoted as first video signal output365 and second video signal output 370, respectively, are insynchronization (or at least synchronized to within a predeterminedthreshold amount as described above). This enables an observer or a testinstrument to make side-by-side comparisons of the visual video qualityof both streams. This setup facilitates the visual or automateddetection of video quality impairments potentially imposed by the DUT310, e.g., video encoding artifacts, noise, dropouts and similareffects. Such detection of video quality impairments (and eventualvisual enhancement of video encoding artifacts or the like) is describedin greater detail in the '145 application, which claims priority to '493application (and which has already been incorporated herein by referencein its entirety for all purposes).

Regarding timing patterns, a timing pattern needs to fulfill severalrequirements: robustness with respect to compression artifacts;redundancy; and simple and low-complexity decoding. In some embodiments,to achieve robustness, timing patterns are designed to be only slightlyaffected by typical encoding artifacts. In case the input is an encodedvideo stream, aligning the blocks in the pattern with codec macroblockboundaries of the timing signal reduces video encoding artifacts such asmosquito noise and other undesirable effects, and/or the like. Accordingto some embodiments, redundancy might be achieved by using timinginformation that is encoded with a sufficient level of redundancy, usingsuitable methods of error correction. A designer of timing patterns canchoose to include a level of redundancy suited to the intendedapplication. Such encoding with redundancy and error correctionfunctionality is as established in the art. In order to reduce overallsystem complexity, the timing patterns need to be designed to requireminimal computational effort for detection and decoding. An implementermay also choose to let users select the type and complexity level of thetiming patterns. If few signal impairments are to be expected, a usercould select a timing pattern using little or no redundancy. This is ofinterest where fastest processing and quickest time to video streamsynchronization are of interest. The system signals to the user ifsynchronization cannot be achieved. It can then automatically switch toa timing pattern with more encoding redundancy. Alternatively, a usercan intervene and manually select a suitable level of redundancy.

Merely by way of example, according to some embodiments, timing patternscan include, for instance, simple black and white patterns, with blackareas representing digital 0's and white patterns representing digital1's, or vice versa, as shown, e.g., by timing pattern 380 a of FIG. 3C.Additional information can be encoded by utilizing grey levels ormultiple colors. For example, a pattern using 4 different brightnesslevels (e.g., white, light grey, dark grey, and black) can encode 2 bitsof information per area. Patterns adding color (chrominance) on top ofbrightness (luminance) information can represent more bits ofinformation per area. Some examples of patterns using black and white aswell as grey levels are as shown, e.g., by timing pattern 385 a of FIG.3D. Adding color information (other than simply the light grey and darkgrey) further increases the bit-density per field. Patterns can vary interms of number of fields, shape of fields, and grey levels or colors,and/or the like, that are utilized to encode information (such as timinginformation or reference information, or the like). In some cases, eachindividual video frame might be encoded with a dedicated timing pattern.

Alternatively, with reference to FIG. 3E, in some embodiments, there isno need to encode each individual video frame with its own dedicatedtiming pattern. Instead, it is sufficient to have an anchor frame thatdenotes a new group of video frames. The anchor frame can contain acyclical counter numbering anchor frames in absolute terms. The videostream synchronizer or synchronization system 305 is then able to simplycount video frames starting with the anchor frames and is so able toassign a frame location, sequence, and therefore time to each individualvideo frame 390, which are spaced apart from each other by intervals395. These are called intermediate frames and are essentially repeatedanchor frames (as shown, e.g., in FIG. 3E). For reasons of stability andoverall robustness, anchor frames with new timing information are beinginserted in suitable intervals. The length of these intervals can bechosen based on the specific application (automatically or via userinput) or based on the output of the DUT 310 (more frequently for DUTswith higher levels of signal impairments and less frequent for DUTs thataffect the video signal very little). As shown in FIG. 3E, each anchorframe 380 a and 380 b (or the like) encodes new timing information.Subsequent frames are called intermediate frames and do not need to beencoded with their own timing information. Instead, the timing patterngenerator 355 and analyzer 350 can simply count the frames following ananchor frame. This reduces overall system complexity.

Once a new anchor frame appears in the video stream timing pattern, thevideo stream synchronizer or synchronization system 305 resets thecounter for intermediate frames to zero and increases the counter foranchor frames by 1.

If the video stream synchronizer or synchronization system 305 hasaccess to an encoded video stream, it is beneficial to place the timingpattern anchor frame into an I-frame or key frame, or the like. Thisensures the highest possible quality of the timing pattern and thereforehighest level of robustness of the timing signal.

This approach is well suited for DUTs where potentially significantvideo quality impairments are expected. A larger number of anchor framesgives the mechanism a better opportunity to achieve synchronization.

With reference to FIG. 3F, an alternative approach is to insert a singlededicated frame 380 c or 380 d containing a specific, previously definedpattern suitable for recognition by the video stream synchronizer orsynchronization system 305. This pattern does not need to contain anyspecific timing information and can be of lower complexity than thepreviously described timing patterns. In this approach, any hardware andsoftware dedicated to recognizing the frame structure can be of lowercomplexity as well.

The video stream synchronizer or synchronization system 305 then waitsfor this pattern 380 d to appear at the output of the DUT 310. The videostream synchronizer or synchronization system 305 is so able todetermine the latency through the DUT 310 and can adjust the delay inthe frame buffer to exactly match the latency of DUT 310. This approachis well suited for DUTs where very few video quality impairments areexpected. The embodiment of FIG. 3F is otherwise similar, if notidentical to, the embodiment of FIG. 3E, and descriptions of the similaraspects of embodiment of FIG. 3E applies to the embodiment of FIG. 3F.

Herein, the synchronization system 305, the first device or DUT 310, thevideo content source(s) 315 and corresponding database(s) 320, the framebuffer delay device 330, the display device(s) 335, and the computingsystem or comparator 375 of system 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B are otherwisesimilar, if not identical, to the synchronization system 105, the firstdevice or DUT 110, the video content source(s) 115 and correspondingdatabase(s) 120, the frame buffer delay device 130, the displaydevice(s) 135, and the computing system 140 of system 100 of FIG. 1,respectively, and descriptions of the components of system 100 of FIG. 1apply to the corresponding components of system 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 4A-4C (collectively, “FIG. 4”) are directed to an alternative setof embodiments. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating yet anothersystem 400 for implementing media stream synchronization, in accordancewith various embodiments. FIGS. 4B and 4C are schematic diagramsillustrating various embodiments of timing patterns, in accordance withvarious embodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 4, system 400 might comprisesynchronization system 405 (which might, in some instances, comprise asynchronization engine or the like), first device 410, video contentsource(s) 415 database(s) 420, frame buffer delay device 430, displaydevice(s) 435 (optional), frame comparator 450, first video signaloutput 465, second video signal output 470, and comparator 475(optional), and/or the like. In the embodiments of FIG. 4,synchronization system 405 might comprise the frame comparator 450.

In the non-limiting embodiments of FIG. 4, the original video signalfrom video content source(s) 415 is split into two: one path feeds intoframe buffer delay device 430, which delays the video signal by avariable, adjustable amount; the other path feeds into the DUT 410. TheDUT 410 has a fixed delay that needs to be matched by the frame bufferdelay device 430.

The frame comparator 450 receives the first video signal from the outputof the first device or DUT 410, while also receiving the second videosignal from the output of the frame buffer delay device 430. The framecomparator 450 can use a variety of techniques to compute the differencebetween the two video streams. Examples of such techniques mightinclude, but are not limited to, one of peak signal-to-noise ratio(“PSNR”) technique or root mean square (“RMS”) technique, and/or thelike. Other techniques can also be employed, depending on the specificapplication or the video content.

The frame comparator 450 continuously adjusts the delay through framebuffer delay device 430 until a minimal signal difference signal isachieved. At this point, both video streams are synchronized as closelyas possible. This approach is illustrated in FIG. 4A.

In FIG. 4B, an original video stream, at a particular starting time,might comprise frame N+2 205 c, frame N+3 205 d, and frame N+4 205 e,etc., while a video stream delayed after passing through first device orDUT 410 (which might be referred to herein as “device output” or thelike) might comprise frame N 205 a, frame N+1 205 b, and frame N+2 205c, etc. In the example of FIG. 4, the offset between the original videostream and the device output is two frames, as described in FIG. 2. Thevarious embodiments, however, are not so limited, and the offset ordelay can be any number of frames depending on the latency of theprocessing functionalities of the first device or DUT 410. In otherwords, the first device or DUT 410 imposes a certain amount of signaldelay corresponding to the latency.

In order to perform any frame-by-frame comparison between the originalvideo stream and device output stream, the two streams have to besynchronized. Frame comparator 450 of synchronization system 405compares the original video stream and device output stream.

FIG. 4C depicts a qualitative representation of the frame differencesignal. The frame comparator 450 continuously computes the differencebetween frames in both video streams and adjust the delay through theframe buffer delay device 430 until it finds a specific delaycorresponding to the lowest difference between both signals. At thispoint, the streams are synchronized as best as possible. In particular,with reference to FIG. 4C, the curve 480 depicts the frame differencesignal at variable adjustable frame delay. As the frame delay isadjusted, the frame difference signal varies until the frame delaycorresponds to the minimal frame difference, as illustrated by thecircle 485, which highlights the point in the curve 480 at which theframe delay corresponds to the minimal frame difference.

The synchronization system 405, the first device or DUT 410, the videocontent source(s) 415 and corresponding database(s) 420, the framebuffer delay device 430, the display device(s) 435, and the computingsystem or comparator 475 of system 400 of FIG. 4A are otherwise similar,if not identical, to the synchronization system 305, the first device orDUT 310, the video content source(s) 315 and corresponding database(s)320, the frame buffer delay device 330, the display device(s) 335, andthe computing system or comparator 375 of system 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B,respectively, and descriptions of the components of system 300 of FIGS.3A and 3B apply to the corresponding components of system 400 of FIG. 4.

As described above, the synchronization system 305, the first device orDUT 310, the video content source(s) 315 and corresponding database(s)320, the frame buffer delay device 330, the display device(s) 335, andthe computing system or comparator 375 of system 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3Bare otherwise similar, if not identical, to the synchronization system105, the first device or DUT 110, the video content source(s) 115 andcorresponding database(s) 120, the frame buffer delay device 130, thedisplay device(s) 135, and the computing system 140 of system 100 ofFIG. 1, respectively, and descriptions of the components of system 100of FIG. 1 apply to the corresponding components of system 300 of FIGS.3A and 3B.

FIGS. 5A-5F (collectively, “FIG. 5”) are flow diagrams illustrating amethod 500 for implementing media stream synchronization, in accordancewith various embodiments. FIG. 5E continues onto FIG. 5F followingcircular marker denoted, “A.”

While the techniques and procedures are depicted and/or described in acertain order for purposes of illustration, it should be appreciatedthat certain procedures may be reordered and/or omitted within the scopeof various embodiments. Moreover, while the method 500 illustrated byFIG. 5 can be implemented by or with (and, in some cases, are describedbelow with respect to) the systems 100, 300, and 400 of FIGS. 1, 3, and4, respectively (or components thereof), such methods may also beimplemented using any suitable hardware (or software) implementation.Similarly, while each of the systems 100, 300, and 400 of FIGS. 1, 3,and 4, respectively (or components thereof), can operate according tothe method 500 illustrated by FIG. 5 (e.g., by executing instructionsembodied on a computer readable medium), the systems 100, 300, and 400of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 can each also operate according to other modes ofoperation and/or perform other suitable procedures.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 5A, method 500, at block 505,might comprise receiving, with a synchronization system, a first signalthat is output from a first device. The first device receives anoriginal video signal from a video source and outputs a first videosignal. Merely by way of example, in some instances, the first devicemight include, without limitation, one of a video encoder, a videodecoder, a video encoder/decoder system, a video transcoder, a videostorage and replay system, a video transport system, or a videobroadcast system, and/or the like.

At block 510, method 500 might comprise analyzing, with thesynchronization system, the received first signal to determine a firstframe buffer delay. Method 500 might comprise generating, with thesynchronization system, a first delay adjustment signal based on thedetermined first frame buffer delay (block 515) and sending, with thesynchronization system, the first delay adjustment signal to a framebuffer delay device (block 520). Method 500 might comprise, at block525, receiving, with the frame buffer delay device, the original videosignal from the video source concurrent with the first device receivingthe original video signal from the video source. The first delayadjustment signal causes the frame buffer delay device to apply thefirst frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce a second video signal that is synchronized with the first videosignal.

In some embodiments, the second video signal might be synchronized withthe first video signal to within a predetermined threshold amount.According to some embodiments, method 500 might further comprisecomparing, with a computing system, the first video signal and thesecond video signal in real-time, on a frame-by-frame basis (optionalblock 530). In some cases, the computing system (which might correspondto computing system 140 of FIG. 1 or comparator 375 or 475 of FIG. 3 or4, or the like), which might be either remote relative to thesynchronization system 105 (and accessible via network(s) 125 as shown,e.g., in FIG. 1, or the like) or local to the synchronization system 105(as shown, e.g., in FIGS. 3 and 4, or the like), might performframe-by-frame comparisons to detect video quality impairments(including, but not limited to, video encoding artifacts, noise,dropouts, etc.), and in some cases to further perform visual enhancementof video encoding artifacts or the like, as described in greater detailin the '145 application, which claims priority to '493 application andwhich has already been incorporated herein by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

With reference to embodiments that implement media streamsynchronization using systems such as system 300 of FIG. 3, thesynchronization system might comprise a timing pattern generator and ananalyzer. In some embodiments, the timing pattern generator and theanalyzer might be part of an integrated timing patterngenerator-analyzer system. In some instances, the first signal mightcomprise a second timing pattern. Referring to FIG. 5B, method 500 mightcomprise, at block 535, switching, using a switch, input to the firstdevice from the video source to the timing pattern generator. Method 500might comprise generating, with the timing pattern generator, a firsttiming pattern (block 540) and sending, with the timing patterngenerator, the first timing pattern to the first device via the switch(block 545). Method 500, at block 505′, might comprise receiving, withthe analyzer, the second timing pattern that is output from the firstdevice. At block 510′, method 500 might comprise analyzing, with theanalyzer, the received second timing pattern to determine the firstframe buffer delay. Method 500 might comprise generating, with theanalyzer, the first delay adjustment signal based on the determinedfirst frame buffer delay (block 515′) and switching, using the switch,input to the first device from the timing pattern generator to the videosource (block 550). The first device subsequently receives the originalvideo signal from the video source and outputs the first video signal.

Method 500, at block 520′, might comprise sending, with the analyzer,the first delay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device.Method 500 might further comprise, at block 525′, receiving, with theframe buffer delay device, the original video signal from the videosource concurrent with the first device receiving the original videosignal from the video source. The first delay adjustment signal causesthe frame buffer delay device to apply the first frame buffer delay tothe received original video signal to produce the second video signalthat is synchronized with the first video signal. According to someembodiments, method 500 might further comprise comparing, with thecomputing system, the first video signal and the second video signal inreal-time, on a frame-by-frame basis (optional block 530′).

In some embodiments, with reference to FIG. 5C, the first timing patternmight comprise a first anchor frame pattern of a plurality of anchorframe patterns, each of the plurality of anchor frame patterns beingdifferent from each other of the plurality of anchor frame patterns. Insome cases, the first anchor frame pattern of the plurality of anchorframe patterns might be encoded on a first frame of the original videosignal and a second anchor frame pattern of the plurality of anchorframe patterns might be encoded on a second frame of the original videosignal. In some instances, the first frame and the second frame areseparated by a predetermined number of frames of the original videosignal, with intermediate frame patterns being encoded on intermediateframes of the original video signal between the first frame and thesecond frame (as shown, e.g., in the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3Eor the like). In some cases, each intermediate frame pattern is the sameas the first anchor frame pattern. Alternatively, each intermediateframe pattern might be a timing pattern different from the first anchorframe pattern, and, in some cases, might be a simpler timing pattern.According to some embodiments, analyzing the second timing pattern todetermine the first frame buffer delay (at block 510′) might comprise:initiating, with the analyzer, a counter when a first anchor frame ofthe plurality of anchor frame patterns is sent to the first device(block 555); stopping, with the analyzer, the counter when the secondtiming pattern is received from the output of the first device (block560); analyzing, with the analyzer, the second timing pattern toidentify a third anchor frame of the plurality of anchor frame patterns(block 565); and determining, with the analyzer, the first frame bufferdelay, based on a value of the counter when stopped, with respect to thethird anchor frame (block 570).

In some cases, sending the first anchor frame to the first device mightcomprise encoding the first anchor frame on a frame of the originalvideo signal. In some instances, the counter might comprise a clock orthe like. Merely by way of example, in some embodiments, each of thefirst anchor frame and the second anchor frame (as well as the thirdanchor frame) might comprise timing information. In this way, it can bedetermined how long it takes for a determined number of frames (i.e.,the number of frames between the third anchor frame and the first anchorframe, and whether the third anchor frame is an intermediate frame orthe first instance of the third anchor frame) to be processed by thefirst device, as measured by the counter.

In alternative embodiments, with reference to FIG. 5D, the first timingpattern and the second timing pattern might be the same pattern. In someinstances, the first timing pattern and the second timing pattern areencoded on a first frame and a second frame, respectively, of theoriginal video signal. In some cases, no timing patterns are encoded oneach intermediate frame of a plurality of intermediate frames betweenthe first frame and the second frame (as shown, e.g., in thenon-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3F or the like). According to somecases, the plurality of intermediate frames between the first frame andthe second frame might comprise a predetermined number of intermediateframes. In some embodiments, analyzing the second timing pattern todetermine the first frame buffer delay (at block 510′) might comprise:initiating, with the analyzer, a counter when the first timing patternis sent to the first device (block 575); stopping, with the analyzer,the counter when the second timing pattern is received from the outputof the first device (block 580); and determining, with the analyzer, thefirst frame buffer delay, based on a value of the counter when stoppedand based on the predetermined number of intermediate frames between thefirst frame and the second frame (block 585).

In some cases, sending the first timing pattern to the first device viathe switch might comprise encoding, with the timing pattern generator,the first timing pattern on the first frame of the original videosignal. In some instances, the counter might comprise a clock or thelike. In this way, it can be determined how long it takes for thepredetermined number of frames (i.e., the predetermined number of framesbetween the second anchor frame and the first anchor frame) to beprocessed by the first device, as measured by the counter. Further, thisalternative approach can be implemented without use of any specifictiming information in the timing patterns and/or can be implementedusing timing patterns of lower complexity compared to the embodimentdescribed above with respect to FIG. 5C.

With reference to embodiments that implement media streamsynchronization using systems such as system 400 of FIG. 4, thesynchronization system might comprise a frame comparator. Method 500might comprise, at block 590, receiving, with the frame comparator, thesecond video signal that is produced by the frame buffer delay device.Method 500, at block 505″, might comprise receiving, with the framecomparator, the first video signal that is output from the first device,which receives the original video signal from the video source. At block510″, method 500 might comprise analyzing, with the frame comparator,the received first video signal and the received second video signal todetermine a second frame buffer delay. Method 500 might furthercomprise, at block 535, determining, with the frame comparator, whetherthe first video signal and the second video signal match to within apredetermined minimal difference. In some cases, determining whether thefirst video signal and the second video signal match to within thepredetermined minimal difference might comprise computing, with theframe comparator, a difference signal between the first video signal andthe second video signal; and analyzing, with the frame comparator, thedifference signal with respect to the predetermined minimal difference,in a manner such as described above with respect to FIG. 4C or the like.Based on a determination that a difference between the received firstvideo signal and the received second video signal exceeds thepredetermined minimal difference, method 500 proceeds to block 515″.

At block 515″, method 500 might comprise generating, with the framecomparator, a second delay adjustment signal based on the determinedsecond frame buffer delay. Method 500, at block 520″, might comprisesending, with the frame comparator, the second delay adjustment signalto the frame buffer delay device. Method 500 might further comprise, atblock 525″, receiving, with the frame buffer delay device, the originalvideo signal from the video source concurrent with the first devicereceiving the original video signal from the video source. The seconddelay adjustment signal causes the frame buffer delay device to applythe second frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce the second video signal that is synchronized with the firstvideo signal. Method 500 then loops back to the process at block 590,until method 500 returns to the process at block 535, and will continuelooping until the second video signal matches the first video signal towithin the predetermined minimal difference.

Based on a determination that the received first video signal and thereceived second video signal match each other to within thepredetermined minimal difference, method 500 proceeds to block 515″ inFIG. 5F following the circular marker denoted, “A.” In some embodiments,determining whether the first video signal and the second video signalmatch to within the predetermined minimal difference might compriseutilizing one of peak signal-to-noise ratio (“PSNR”) technique or rootmean square (“RMS”) technique, and/or the like.

At block 515″, method 500 might comprise generating, with the framecomparator, the second delay adjustment signal based on the determinedsecond frame buffer delay. Method 500, at block 520″, might comprisesending, with the frame comparator, the second delay adjustment signalto the frame buffer delay device. Method 500 might further comprise, atblock 525″, receiving, with the frame buffer delay device, the originalvideo signal from the video source concurrent with the first devicereceiving the original video signal from the video source. The seconddelay adjustment signal causes the frame buffer delay device to applythe second frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce the second video signal that is synchronized with the firstvideo signal. According to some embodiments, method 500 might furthercomprise comparing, with the computing system, the first video signaland the second video signal in real-time, on a frame-by-frame basis(optional block 530″).

Exemplary System and Hardware Implementation

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 6provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computer system600 of the service provider system hardware that can perform the methodsprovided by various other embodiments, as described herein, and/or canperform the functions of computer or hardware system (i.e.,synchronization systems or engines 105, 305, and 405, first devices 110,310, and 410, video content sources 115, 315, and 415, frame bufferdelay devices 130, 330, and 430, display devices 135, 335, and 435,computing system 140, analyzer 350, timing pattern generator 355, switch360, comparator 375 and 475, frame comparator 450, etc.), as describedabove. It should be noted that FIG. 6 is meant only to provide ageneralized illustration of various components, of which one or more (ornone) of each may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 6, therefore, broadlyillustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in arelatively separated or relatively more integrated manner.

The computer or hardware system 600—which might represent an embodimentof the computer or hardware system (i.e., synchronization systems orengines 105, 305, and 405, first devices 110, 310, and 410, videocontent sources 115, 315, and 415, frame buffer delay devices 130, 330,and 430, display devices 135, 335, and 435, computing system 140,analyzer 350, timing pattern generator 355, switch 360, comparator 375and 475, frame comparator 450, etc.), described above with respect toFIGS. 1-5—is shown comprising hardware elements that can be electricallycoupled via a bus 605 (or may otherwise be in communication, asappropriate). The hardware elements may include one or more processors610, including, without limitation, one or more general-purposeprocessors and/or one or more special-purpose processors (such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 615, which caninclude, without limitation, a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; andone or more output devices 620, which can include, without limitation, adisplay device, a printer, and/or the like.

The computer or hardware system 600 may further include (and/or be incommunication with) one or more storage devices 625, which can comprise,without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or caninclude, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, solid-state storage device such as a random accessmemory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices maybe configured to implement any appropriate data stores, including,without limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer or hardware system 600 might also include a communicationssubsystem 630, which can include, without limitation, a modem, a networkcard (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, a WWAN device, cellularcommunication facilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communicationssubsystem 630 may permit data to be exchanged with a network (such asthe network described below, to name one example), with other computeror hardware systems, and/or with any other devices described herein. Inmany embodiments, the computer or hardware system 600 will furthercomprise a working memory 635, which can include a RAM or ROM device, asdescribed above.

The computer or hardware system 600 also may comprise software elements,shown as being currently located within the working memory 635,including an operating system 640, device drivers, executable libraries,and/or other code, such as one or more application programs 645, whichmay comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments(including, without limitation, hypervisors, VMs, and the like), and/ormay be designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, providedby other embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, oneor more procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussedabove might be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be encoded and/or storedon a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as thestorage device(s) 625 described above. In some cases, the storage mediummight be incorporated within a computer system, such as the system 600.In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from acomputer system (i.e., a removable medium, such as a compact disc,etc.), and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storagemedium can be used to program, configure and/or adapt a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputer or hardware system 600 and/or might take the form of sourceand/or installable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation onthe computer or hardware system 600 (e.g., using any of a variety ofgenerally available compilers, installation programs,compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then takes the form ofexecutable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware (such as programmable logic controllers,field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integratedcircuits, and/or the like) might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer or hardware system (such as the computer or hardware system600) to perform methods in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention. According to a set of embodiments, some or all of theprocedures of such methods are performed by the computer or hardwaresystem 600 in response to processor 610 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions (which might be incorporated into theoperating system 640 and/or other code, such as an application program645) contained in the working memory 635. Such instructions may be readinto the working memory 635 from another computer readable medium, suchas one or more of the storage device(s) 625. Merely by way of example,execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the workingmemory 635 might cause the processor(s) 610 to perform one or moreprocedures of the methods described herein.

The terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodimentimplemented using the computer or hardware system 600, various computerreadable media might be involved in providing instructions/code toprocessor(s) 610 for execution and/or might be used to store and/orcarry such instructions/code (e.g., as signals). In manyimplementations, a computer readable medium is a non-transitory,physical, and/or tangible storage medium. In some embodiments, acomputer readable medium may take many forms, including, but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, or the like. Non-volatile mediaincludes, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thestorage device(s) 625. Volatile media includes, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 635. In some alternativeembodiments, a computer readable medium may take the form oftransmission media, which includes, without limitation, coaxial cables,copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus605, as well as the various components of the communication subsystem630 (and/or the media by which the communications subsystem 630 providescommunication with other devices). In an alternative set of embodiments,transmission media can also take the form of waves (including withoutlimitation radio, acoustic and/or light waves, such as those generatedduring radio-wave and infra-red data communications).

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chipor cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any othermedium from which a computer can read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 610for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer or hardware system 600. Thesesignals, which might be in the form of electromagnetic signals, acousticsignals, optical signals, and/or the like, are all examples of carrierwaves on which instructions can be encoded, in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

The communications subsystem 630 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 605 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 635, from which the processor(s) 605 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 635 may optionally be stored on a storage device 625 eitherbefore or after execution by the processor(s) 610.

As noted above, a set of embodiments comprises methods and systems forimplementing media content streaming or playback, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingmedia stream synchronization. FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram ofa system 700 that can be used in accordance with one set of embodiments.The system 700 can include one or more user computers, user devices, orcustomer devices 705. A user computer, user device, or customer device705 can be a general purpose personal computer (including, merely by wayof example, desktop computers, tablet computers, laptop computers,handheld computers, and the like, running any appropriate operatingsystem, several of which are available from vendors such as Apple,Microsoft Corp., and the like), cloud computing devices, a server(s),and/or a workstation computer(s) running any of a variety ofcommercially-available UNIX™ or UNIX-like operating systems. A usercomputer, user device, or customer device 705 can also have any of avariety of applications, including one or more applications configuredto perform methods provided by various embodiments (as described above,for example), as well as one or more office applications, databaseclient and/or server applications, and/or web browser applications.Alternatively, a user computer, user device, or customer device 705 canbe any other electronic device, such as a thin-client computer,Internet-enabled mobile telephone, and/or personal digital assistant,capable of communicating via a network (e.g., the network(s) 710described below) and/or of displaying and navigating web pages or othertypes of electronic documents. Although the exemplary system 700 isshown with two user computers, user devices, or customer devices 705,any number of user computers, user devices, or customer devices can besupported.

Certain embodiments operate in a networked environment, which caninclude a network(s) 710. The network(s) 710 can be any type of networkfamiliar to those skilled in the art that can support datacommunications using any of a variety of commercially-available (and/orfree or proprietary) protocols, including, without limitation, TCP/IP,SNA™, IPX™, AppleTalk™, and the like. Merely by way of example, thenetwork(s) 710 (similar to network(s) 125 FIG. 1, or the like) can eachinclude a local area network (“LAN”), including, without limitation, afiber network, an Ethernet network, a Token-Ring™ network and/or thelike; a wide-area network (“WAN”); a wireless wide area network(“WWAN”); a virtual network, such as a virtual private network (“VPN”);the Internet; an intranet; an extranet; a public switched telephonenetwork (“PSTN”); an infra-red network; a wireless network, including,without limitation, a network operating under any of the IEEE 802.11suite of protocols, the Bluetooth™ protocol known in the art, and/or anyother wireless protocol; and/or any combination of these and/or othernetworks. In a particular embodiment, the network might include anaccess network of the service provider (e.g., an Internet serviceprovider (“ISP”)). In another embodiment, the network might include acore network of the service provider, and/or the Internet.

Embodiments can also include one or more server computers 715. Each ofthe server computers 715 may be configured with an operating system,including, without limitation, any of those discussed above, as well asany commercially (or freely) available server operating systems. Each ofthe servers 715 may also be running one or more applications, which canbe configured to provide services to one or more clients 705 and/orother servers 715.

Merely by way of example, one of the servers 715 might be a data server,a web server, a cloud computing device(s), or the like, as describedabove. The data server might include (or be in communication with) a webserver, which can be used, merely by way of example, to process requestsfor web pages or other electronic documents from user computers 705. Theweb server can also run a variety of server applications, including HTTPservers, FTP servers, CGI servers, database servers, Java servers, andthe like. In some embodiments of the invention, the web server may beconfigured to serve web pages that can be operated within a web browseron one or more of the user computers 705 to perform methods of theinvention.

The server computers 715, in some embodiments, might include one or moreapplication servers, which can be configured with one or moreapplications accessible by a client running on one or more of the clientcomputers 705 and/or other servers 715. Merely by way of example, theserver(s) 715 can be one or more general purpose computers capable ofexecuting programs or scripts in response to the user computers 705and/or other servers 715, including, without limitation, webapplications (which might, in some cases, be configured to performmethods provided by various embodiments). Merely by way of example, aweb application can be implemented as one or more scripts or programswritten in any suitable programming language, such as Java™, C, C#™ orC++, and/or any scripting language, such as Perl, Python, or TCL, aswell as combinations of any programming and/or scripting languages. Theapplication server(s) can also include database servers, including,without limitation, those commercially available from Oracle™,Microsoft™, Sybase™, IBM™, and the like, which can process requests fromclients (including, depending on the configuration, dedicated databaseclients, API clients, web browsers, etc.) running on a user computer,user device, or customer device 705 and/or another server 715. In someembodiments, an application server can perform one or more of theprocesses for implementing media content streaming or playback, and,more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingmedia stream synchronization, as described in detail above. Dataprovided by an application server may be formatted as one or more webpages (comprising HTML, JavaScript, etc., for example) and/or may beforwarded to a user computer 705 via a web server (as described above,for example). Similarly, a web server might receive web page requestsand/or input data from a user computer 705 and/or forward the web pagerequests and/or input data to an application server. In some cases, aweb server may be integrated with an application server.

In accordance with further embodiments, one or more servers 715 canfunction as a file server and/or can include one or more of the files(e.g., application code, data files, etc.) necessary to implementvarious disclosed methods, incorporated by an application running on auser computer 705 and/or another server 715. Alternatively, as thoseskilled in the art will appreciate, a file server can include allnecessary files, allowing such an application to be invoked remotely bya user computer, user device, or customer device 705 and/or server 715.

It should be noted that the functions described with respect to variousservers herein (e.g., application server, database server, web server,file server, etc.) can be performed by a single server and/or aplurality of specialized servers, depending on implementation-specificneeds and parameters.

In certain embodiments, the system can include one or more databases 720a-720 n (collectively, “databases 720”). The location of each of thedatabases 720 is discretionary: merely by way of example, a database 720a might reside on a storage medium local to (and/or resident in) aserver 715 a (and/or a user computer, user device, or customer device705). Alternatively, a database 720 n can be remote from any or all ofthe computers 705, 715, so long as it can be in communication (e.g., viathe network 710) with one or more of these. In a particular set ofembodiments, a database 720 can reside in a storage-area network (“SAN”)familiar to those skilled in the art. (Likewise, any necessary files forperforming the functions attributed to the computers 705, 715 can bestored locally on the respective computer and/or remotely, asappropriate.) In one set of embodiments, the database 720 can be arelational database, such as an Oracle database, that is adapted tostore, update, and retrieve data in response to SQL-formatted commands.The database might be controlled and/or maintained by a database server,as described above, for example.

According to some embodiments, system 700 might further comprisesynchronization system 725 (which might correspond to synchronizationsystems or engines 105, 305, and 405, analyzer 350, timing patterngenerator 355, and frame comparator 450 of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and/or thelike), first device 730 (which might correspond to first devices 110,310, and 410 of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and/or the like), frame buffer delaydevice 735 (which might correspond to frame buffer delay devices 130,330, and 430 of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and/or the like), comparator 740(optional) (which might correspond to comparator 375 and 475 of FIGS. 1,3, and 4, and/or the like), video content source(s) 745 (which mightcorrespond to video content sources 115, 315, and 415 of FIGS. 1, 3, and4, and/or the like), database(s) 750 (which is associated with videocontent source(s) 745; and which might correspond to database(s) 120,320, and 420 of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and/or the like), and/or the like.

In operation, the synchronization system 725 might receive a firstsignal that is output from the first device 730, wherein the firstdevice receives an original video signal from a video source (e.g.,video content source(s) 745 and/or database(s) 750, or the like) andoutputs a first video signal. The synchronization system 725 mightanalyze the received first signal to determine a first frame bufferdelay, and might generate a first delay adjustment signal based on thedetermined first frame buffer delay. The synchronization system 725might send the first delay adjustment signal to a frame buffer delaydevice 735. The frame buffer delay device 735, which is separate fromthe first device 730, might receive the original video signal from thevideo source concurrent with the first device receiving the originalvideo signal from the video source. The first delay adjustment signalwould cause the frame buffer delay device 735 to apply the first framebuffer delay to the received original video signal to produce a secondvideo signal that is synchronized with the first video signal. In somecases, the second video signal might be synchronized with the firstvideo signal to within a predetermined threshold amount (which might bein terms of number of frames or number of seconds (or milliseconds), orthe like).

In some embodiments, the synchronization system 725 might comprise atiming pattern generator and an analyzer. Non-limiting examples of suchembodiments are shown in, and described below with respect to, FIGS.3A-3F and 5B-5D. In these embodiments, the first signal would comprise atiming pattern.

In alternative embodiments, the synchronization system 725 mightcomprise a frame comparator. Non-limiting examples of these embodimentsare shown in, and described below with respect to, FIGS. 4A-4C, 5E, and5F. In these embodiments, the first signal would comprise the firstvideo signal.

Merely by way of example, in some instances, comparator 740 mightcontrol the operation of the synchronization system 725, the firstdevice 730, and/or the frame buffer delay device 735. Alternatively, oradditionally, comparator 740 might perform additional processing of thevideo signals that are output by the first device 730 and/or the framebuffer delay device 735. In some cases, the comparator 740, which mightbe either remote relative to the synchronization system 725 (andaccessible via network(s) 710) or local to the synchronization system725, might perform frame-by-frame comparisons to detect video qualityimpairments (including, but not limited to, video encoding artifacts,noise, dropouts, etc.), and in some cases to further perform visualenhancement of video encoding artifacts or the like, as described ingreater detail in the '145 application, which claims priority to '493application (and which has already been incorporated herein by referencein its entirety for all purposes). Alternatively, or additionally, userdevice(s) or display device(s) 705 might display the first video signalthat is output by the first device 730 and/or might display the secondvideo signal that is output by the frame buffer delay device 735, whicheither allows a user to view the two video signals and to manual adjustthe frame delay.

These and other functions of the system 700 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail above with respect to FIGS. 1-5.

While certain features and aspects have been described with respect toexemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize thatnumerous modifications are possible. For example, the methods andprocesses described herein may be implemented using hardware components,software components, and/or any combination thereof. Further, whilevarious methods and processes described herein may be described withrespect to particular structural and/or functional components for easeof description, methods provided by various embodiments are not limitedto any particular structural and/or functional architecture but insteadcan be implemented on any suitable hardware, firmware and/or softwareconfiguration. Similarly, while certain functionality is ascribed tocertain system components, unless the context dictates otherwise, thisfunctionality can be distributed among various other system componentsin accordance with the several embodiments.

Moreover, while the procedures of the methods and processes describedherein are described in a particular order for ease of description,unless the context dictates otherwise, various procedures may bereordered, added, and/or omitted in accordance with various embodiments.Moreover, the procedures described with respect to one method or processmay be incorporated within other described methods or processes;likewise, system components described according to a particularstructural architecture and/or with respect to one system may beorganized in alternative structural architectures and/or incorporatedwithin other described systems. Hence, while various embodiments aredescribed with—or without—certain features for ease of description andto illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the variouscomponents and/or features described herein with respect to a particularembodiment can be substituted, added and/or subtracted from among otherdescribed embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise.Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are describedabove, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to coverall modifications and equivalents within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, with asynchronization system, a first signal that is output from a firstdevice, wherein the first device receives an original video signal froma video source and outputs a first video signal; analyzing, with thesynchronization system, the received first signal to determine a firstframe buffer delay; generating, with the synchronization system, a firstdelay adjustment signal based on the determined first frame bufferdelay; and sending, with the synchronization system, the first delayadjustment signal to a frame buffer delay device, the frame buffer delaydevice, which is separate from the first device, receiving the originalvideo signal from the video source concurrent with the first devicereceiving the original video signal from the video source, the firstdelay adjustment signal causing the frame buffer delay device to applythe first frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce a second video signal that is synchronized with the first videosignal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization systemcomprises a timing pattern generator and an analyzer, wherein the firstsignal comprises a second timing pattern, wherein the method furthercomprises: switching, using a switch, input to the first device from thevideo source to the timing pattern generator; generating, with thetiming pattern generator, a first timing pattern; sending, with thetiming pattern generator, the first timing pattern to the first devicevia the switch, wherein: receiving, with the synchronization system, thefirst signal that is output from the first device comprises receiving,with the analyzer, the second timing pattern that is output from thefirst device; analyzing, with the synchronization system, the receivedfirst signal to determine the first frame buffer delay comprisesanalyzing, with the analyzer, the second timing pattern to determine thefirst frame buffer delay; and generating, with the synchronizationsystem, the first delay adjustment signal based on the determined firstframe buffer delay comprises generating, with the analyzer, the firstdelay adjustment signal based on the determined first frame bufferdelay; and switching, using the switch, input from the timing patterngenerator to the video source, wherein sending, with the synchronizationsystem, the first delay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delaydevice comprises sending, with the analyzer, the first delay adjustmentsignal to the frame buffer delay device.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the first timing pattern comprises a first anchor frame patternof a plurality of anchor frame patterns, each of the plurality of anchorframe patterns being different from each other of the plurality ofanchor frame patterns, wherein the first anchor frame pattern of theplurality of anchor frame patterns is encoded on a first frame of theoriginal video signal and a second anchor frame pattern of the pluralityof anchor frame patterns is encoded on a second frame of the originalvideo signal, wherein the first frame and the second frame are separatedby a predetermined number of frames of the original video signal, withintermediate frame patterns being encoded on intermediate frames of theoriginal video signal between the first frame and the second frame,wherein each intermediate frame pattern is the same as the first anchorframe pattern, wherein analyzing the second timing pattern to determinethe first frame buffer delay comprises: initiating, with the analyzer, acounter when a first anchor frame of the plurality of anchor framepatterns is sent to the first device; stopping, with the analyzer, thecounter when the second timing pattern is received from the output ofthe first device; analyzing, with the analyzer, the second timingpattern to identify a third anchor frame of the plurality of anchorframe patterns; and determining, with the analyzer, the first framebuffer delay, based on a value of the counter when stopped, with respectto the third anchor frame.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein sending thefirst anchor frame to the first device comprises encoding the firstanchor frame on a frame of the original video signal.
 5. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the counter comprises a clock.
 6. The method of claim3, wherein each of the first anchor frame and the second anchor framecomprises timing information.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein thefirst timing pattern and the second timing pattern are the same pattern,wherein the first timing pattern and the second timing pattern areencoded on a first frame and a second frame, respectively, of theoriginal video signal, wherein no timing patterns are encoded on eachintermediate frame of a plurality of intermediate frames between thefirst frame and the second frame, wherein the plurality of intermediateframes between the first frame and the second frame comprisespredetermined number of intermediate frames, wherein analyzing thesecond timing pattern to determine the first frame buffer delaycomprises: initiating, with the analyzer, a counter when the firsttiming pattern is sent to the first device; stopping, with the analyzer,the counter when the second timing pattern is received from the outputof the first device; and determining, with the analyzer, the first framebuffer delay, based on a value of the counter when stopped and based onthe predetermined number of intermediate frames between the first frameand the second frame.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein sending thefirst timing pattern to the first device via the switch comprisesencoding, with the timing pattern generator, the first timing pattern onthe first frame of the original video signal.
 9. The method of claim 7,wherein the counter comprises a clock.
 10. The method of claim 2,wherein the timing pattern generator and the analyzer are part of anintegrated timing pattern generator-analyzer system.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the synchronization system comprises a framecomparator, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, with theframe comparator, the second video signal that is produced by the framebuffer delay device, wherein: receiving, with the synchronizationsystem, the first signal that is output from the first device comprisesreceiving, with the frame comparator, the first video signal that isoutput from the first device; analyzing, with the synchronizationsystem, the received first signal to determine the first frame bufferdelay comprises analyzing, with the frame comparator, the received firstvideo signal and the received second video signal to determine a secondframe buffer delay; generating, with the synchronization system, thefirst delay adjustment signal based on the determined first frame bufferdelay comprises generating, with the frame comparator, a second delayadjustment signal based on the determined second frame buffer delay; andsending, with the synchronization system, the first delay adjustmentsignal to the frame buffer delay device comprises sending, with theframe comparator, the second delay adjustment signal to the frame bufferdelay device to produce the second video signal; determining, with theframe comparator, whether the first video signal and the second videosignal match to within a predetermined minimal difference; and based ona determination that a difference between the received first videosignal and the received second video signal exceeds the predeterminedminimal difference, repeating the processes of: generating, with theframe comparator, the second delay adjustment signal based on the secondframe buffer delay; sending, with the frame comparator, the second delayadjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device, the second delayadjustment signal causing the frame buffer delay device to apply thesecond frame buffer delay to the received original video signal toproduce the second video signal; receiving, with the frame comparator,the first video signal; receiving, with the frame comparator, the secondvideo signal; analyzing, with the frame comparator, the received firstvideo signal and the received second video signal; and determining, withthe frame comparator, whether the received first video signal and thereceived second video signal match to within the predetermined minimaldifference.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether thefirst video signal and the second video signal match to within thepredetermined minimal difference comprises: computing, with the framecomparator, a difference signal between the first video signal and thesecond video signal; and analyzing, with the frame comparator, thedifference signal with respect to the predetermined minimal difference.13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the first videosignal and the second video signal match to within the predeterminedminimal difference comprises utilizing one of peak signal-to-noise ratio(“PSNR”) technique or root mean square (“RMS”) technique.
 14. The methodof claim 1, wherein the second video signal is synchronized with thefirst video signal to within a predetermined threshold amount.
 15. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: comparing, with a computingsystem, the first video signal and the second video signal in real-time,on a frame-by-frame basis.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstdevice comprises one of a video encoder, a video decoder, a videoencoder/decoder system, a video transcoder, a video storage and replaysystem, a video transport system, or a video broadcast system.
 17. Asynchronization system, comprising: at least one processor; and anon-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to theat least one processor, the non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving stored thereon computer software comprising a set of instructionsthat, when executed by the at least one processor, causes thesynchronization system to: receive a first signal that is output from afirst device, wherein the first device receives an original video signalfrom a video source and outputs a first video signal; analyze thereceived first signal to determine a first frame buffer delay; generatea first delay adjustment signal based on the determined first framebuffer delay; and send the first delay adjustment signal to a framebuffer delay device, the frame buffer delay device, which is separatefrom the first device, receiving the original video signal from thevideo source concurrent with the first device receiving the originalvideo signal from the video source, the first delay adjustment signalcausing the frame buffer delay device to apply the first frame bufferdelay to the received original video signal to produce a second videosignal that is synchronized with the first video signal.
 18. Thesynchronization system of claim 17, further comprising a timing patterngenerator, an analyzer, and a switch, wherein the first signal comprisesa second timing pattern, wherein the set of instructions, when executedby the at least one processor, further causes the synchronization systemto: switch, using the switch, input to the first device from the videosource to the timing pattern generator; generate, with the timingpattern generator, a first timing pattern; send the first timing patternto the first device via the switch, wherein: receiving the first signalthat is output from the first device comprises receiving, with theanalyzer, the second timing pattern that is output from the firstdevice; analyzing the received first signal to determine the first framebuffer delay comprises analyzing, with the analyzer, the second timingpattern to determine the first frame buffer delay; and generating thefirst delay adjustment signal based on the determined first frame bufferdelay comprises generating, with the analyzer, the first delayadjustment signal based on the determined first frame buffer delay; andswitch, using the switch, input from the timing pattern generator to thevideo source, wherein sending the first delay adjustment signal to theframe buffer delay device comprises sending, with the analyzer, thefirst delay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device.
 19. Thesynchronization system of claim 17, further comprising a framecomparator, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, further causes the synchronization system to:receive, with the frame comparator, the second video signal that isproduced by the frame buffer delay device, wherein: receiving the firstsignal that is output from the first device comprises receiving, withthe frame comparator, the first video signal that is output from thefirst device; analyzing the received first signal to determine the firstframe buffer delay comprises analyzing, with the frame comparator, thereceived first video signal and the received second video signal todetermine a second frame buffer delay; generating the first delayadjustment signal based on the determined first frame buffer delaycomprises generating, with the frame comparator, a second delayadjustment signal based on the determined second frame buffer delay; andsending the first delay adjustment signal to the frame buffer delaydevice comprises sending, with the frame comparator, the second delayadjustment signal to the frame buffer delay device to produce the secondvideo signal; determine, with the frame comparator, whether the firstvideo signal and the second video signal match to within a predeterminedminimal difference; and based on a determination that a differencebetween the received first video signal and the received second videosignal exceeds the predetermined minimal difference, causing thesynchronization system to repeat: generating, with the frame comparator,the second delay adjustment signal based on the second frame bufferdelay; sending, with the frame comparator, the second delay adjustmentsignal to the frame buffer delay device, the second delay adjustmentsignal causing the frame buffer delay device to apply the second framebuffer delay to the received original video signal to produce the secondvideo signal; receiving, with the frame comparator, the first videosignal; receiving, with the frame comparator, the second video signal;analyzing, with the frame comparator, the received first video signaland the received second video signal; and determining, with the framecomparator, whether the received first video signal and the receivedsecond video signal match to within the predetermined minimaldifference.
 20. The synchronization system of claim 17, wherein thesecond video signal is synchronized with the first video signal towithin a predetermined threshold amount.
 21. The synchronization systemof claim 17, wherein the first device comprises one of a video encoder,a video decoder, a video encoder/decoder system, a video transcoder, avideo storage and replay system, a video transport system, or a videobroadcast system.